Fig Wasps

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/KwIrVfse7Qo

There has been much commentary about figs having dead wasps in them.  

Fig Newtons used to be one of my favorite snacks.

Yes, figs can contain the remnants of dead fig wasps, but not in a way that you would notice them when eating the fig. The wasp enters the fig to lay its eggs, and the fig produces an enzyme that digests the wasp's body, effectively absorbing it into the fruit. This means the crunchy texture you might feel in a fig is from the seeds, not wasp parts. 

Here's a more detailed explanation:

• Pollination Process:

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  Fig trees and fig wasps have a unique, mutually beneficial relationship. Female fig wasps enter the fig (which is actually an enclosed flower structure called a syconium) to lay their eggs. 
• Digestion by the Fig:

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  As the wasp enters the fig, it can become trapped and die. The fig then produces enzymes that break down the wasp's body, absorbing its nutrients. 
• No Wasp Remains in Edible Fig:

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  By the time the fig is ripe and ready to eat, the wasp's body is completely digested. The crunchiness you experience when eating a fig comes from the small seeds within the fruit. 
Parthenocarpic Figs:
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Some fig varieties are parthenocarpic, meaning they produce fruit without pollination. These figs don't require wasps and won't contain any wasp remains. 


Do all figs contain wasps?
No, not all figs are pollinated by wasps. Many commercially grown fig varieties are self-pollinating or parthenocarpic, meaning they can produce fruit without the need for pollination. Some varieties can also be induced to ripen using plant hormones without wasps. Varieties like Mission, Sierra, Celeste, Adriatic, Kadota, and Brown Turkey figs are known to be self-pollinating. However, the Calimyrna fig (also known as Turkish fig) generally requires wasp pollination.